Chandigarh : Blaming the Congress government at the centre for rampant corruption, lack of development and the burden of price rise on the common man, Punjab’s ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance Sunday sought a clear mandate from the electorate in the forthcoming assembly polls in the state.
Organising a massive “vikas” (development) rally at Killi Chellan village near Moga town, the ruling alliance launched its poll campaign for the elections in Punjab to be held February-March next year.
All Akali Dal and BJP leaders lambasted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress for failure on all fronts of governance and promoting corruption.
Akali Dal president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the rally had attracted a crowd of one million (10 lakh) people.
He termed the rally as the “biggest historic rally” in Punjab and said that people in the state had made up their mind to vote the Akali Dal-BJP government back to power in the next assembly election.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal slammed the central government for promoting corruption.
“The Congress has ruled this country more than anyone else. It has failed on all fronts – whether it is controlling inflation, checking corruption or safeguarding the security of the country,” Badal told the rally.
He rued the fact that Punjab was never given its rightful share by the Congress-led central government despite its massive contribution in ensuring food security and sacrifice in the freedom struggle and subsequent wars.
Badal said that the Akali Dal-BJP alliance would contest the forthcoming assembly polls on the sole plank of development, peace and communal harmony.
Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the massive crowd at the rally showed clearly that people in Punjab wanted the Akali Dal-BJP combine to come to power in the state again. He said that the alliance government had ushered development and peace in the state.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said that the rally was a symbol of victory of alliance in the coming assembly polls.
She said that the central government had lost its credibility due to high inflation, rampant corruption and making life miserable for the common man.
IANS
